General Assembly considers early voting

HARTFORD - The General Assembly is considering joining 33 other states that allow early voting to help alleviate long lines at the polls and encourage more people to cast ballots.

“I’m here because voters are demanding this,” said Secretary of State Denise Merrill said. “This is well established around the country. This is all possible now. I would ask everyone to remember this is about the people out there who just want a better option to vote.”

A public hearing Monday before the Legislature’s general administration and election committee drew mostly support for nearly a dozen bills that would bring early voting to the state.

The bills varied from seeking to amend the state constitution, which mandates that residents vote in person, to allow early voting to authorizing “no excuse” absentee ballots and even voting by mail.

Amending the constitution for early voting involves putting a ballot question before voters, a process that failed to gain a majority in 2014. Supporters said Monday the language of that question was confusing and a divided governor’s race diverted attention.